Canada's Olympic "mathletes" training at Dalhousie University

The team arrived at Dalhousie June 24 for a special IMO training
camp and will be in Halifax until they depart for Slovenia on
July 2. Five Maritime high school students, three from the
Halifax area and two from Fredericton, are training with the
"mathletes" as invited guests with the goal of developing their
math skills.

The team was given an official sendoff today at Dalhousie's
University Club. The six competitors were presented with their
official uniforms and the local high school students were
presented with gifts for their contribution. Speakers included:
Donna Karsten, Nova Scotia Department of Education; Dr. Graham
Wright, Executive Director, Canadian Mathematical Society; and
Jonathan Borwein, Canada Research Chair in Collaborative
Technology at Dalhousie University and Director of the Atlantic
Association for Research in the Mathematical Sciences.

"These
are exceptional students who will be competing against the very
best problem-solvers at the international level," said Dr.
Wright. "They have shown excellence in problem-solving and
creativity and represent the great potential of our students
across the country."

Team members were selected from among more
than 200,000 students in grades 7-12 who participated in local,
provincial and national math contests. While in Ljubljana, they
will pit their skills against over 500 of the world's best math
students from more than 90 countries. At last year's IMO in
Mérida, Mexico, the Canadian team placed 19th out of the 91
competing countries and took home five medals. Canada has won
over 100 medals at the IMO since first fielding a team in 1981.